Health Information Technology Commons^™

Deconstructing The Extended Focused Assessment With Sonography In Trauma (E-Fast) As A Roadmap For Longitudinal Integration Of Point Of Care Ultrasound Education Within Undergraduate Medical Education, Cherie Tator, Maria Maldonado, Nadia Ismail, Kiyetta H Alade, Alan Riley

Faculty and Staff Publications

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has been embraced by most medical specialties, yet undergraduate medical education still has difficulty incorporating POCUS skill development and assessment. While much of the existing literature focuses on specific POCUS and/or ultrasound topics, the feasibility as well as ensuring POCUS topics are relevant to all undergraduate medical education (UME) learners are often left unaddressed. The authors outline a novel, outcomes-driven, longitudinal POCUS curriculum designed around a "deconstructed" Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (E-FAST) exam, which facilitated purposeful integration of POCUS and medical imaging topics into organ system-based foundational courses. Curriculum development strategies specific to POCUS …

Implementing A Pre-Matriculation Program Targeting Self-Efficacy, Institutional Belongingness, And Metacognition, Steve Caloudas, Nital Appelbaum, Jesus Vallejo, Nadia Ismail, Andrea Stolar

Faculty and Staff Publications

Students come to medical school with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Accordingly, many schools have developed pre-matriculation programs to support students' transition into medical education, especially for those whose educational path may not have offered the same breath of opportunities as their incoming counterparts. Baylor College of Medicine established a pre-matriculation program for students from early assurance programs and non-traditional pathways to address gaps in student support and normalize help-seeking behavior. This program took place over 2 weeks and was developed with leadership and student partners. Participants included 21 students who completed baseline and post-program surveys. Results indicated that a focus …

Awareness, Knowledge, And Motivations About Lifespan, Healthspan, And Healthy Longevity Medicine In The General Population: The Healthy Longevity (Helo) Conceptual Framework, Belinda Wang, Anna Szucs, Elena Sandalova, E. J. Horberg, Paul A. O'Keefe, Louis Island, Hans J. Meij, Sonny Rosenthal, Andrea B. Maier

Research Collection College of Integrative Studies

The global population is ageing and the gap between lifespan (total years lived) and healthspan (years lived free of diseases) is increasing. Healthy Longevity Medicine (HLM) is an approach to optimise health and healthspan, and it has substantial public health implications. Despite those implications, the understanding of public perspectives on this field is lacking. The HEalthy LOngevity (HELO) framework was developed through a literature review guided by expert discussions across disciplines to include evidence-based concepts of health-related decision-making, ageing, and HLM. The framework organises concepts into three components. The first two components, awareness and knowledge, explore public perception and understanding …

June 2025, Swosu Bulldog Wellness Committee

SWOSU BULLDOG WELLNESS

June 2025 Newsletter brought to you by the Bulldog Wellness Committee

You can do it! It's easy to eat more fruit and vegetables with this Fruit and Vegetable Guide. It offers practical tips that don’t require big changes to the way you or your family eats. The American Heart Association has a handy guide for ideas and recipes.

Determinants Of Teenage Pregnancy In Tanzania, Harun Yussuf Ayoub, Kemal Nazaruddin Siregar

Jurnal Biostatistik, Kependudukan, dan Informatika Kesehatan

Teenage pregnancies are among the leading public health problems in Tanzania. This was linked to limited education, socioeconomic disparities, cultural barriers, and inadequate access to healthcare centers. Thus, this study aims to explore the prevalence and predictors of teenage pregnancy among adolescent women using data from the 2022-2023 Tanzanian Demographic Health Survey (TDHS). The research design employed a cross-sectional approach and utilized TDHS data. The population for this study was female adolescents, while the sample was 7,545 adolescent women aged 15-24 years. Predictor variables were education level, socioeconomic status, place of residence, employment status, and lifestyle factors, including alcohol consumption …

Perceptions Of Benefits And Drawbacks In Maintaining Back Burner Relationships Online: A Report On Gendered Differences Among College Students, Narissra Maria Punyanunt-Carter, Jayson L. Dibble, Michelle Drouin, Christian Chambless, Ryan J. Martinez, Kayren Larrimore, Sumeyya Akdilek

Health Services and Informatics Research

This report investigates the perceptions of college students regarding the benefits and drawbacks of maintaining back burner relationships online, with a specific focus on gender-based differences. A mixed-methods study design was utilized. Participants included 762 undergraduate students (71% female, 71% Caucasian, 92% heterosexual) from communication courses at a Southwestern university. Participants completed a Qualtrics survey, and data were analyzed using content analysis with a focus on thematic coding. Inter-coder reliability was established at 98%. Results identified distinct gender differences in the benefits and drawbacks of back burner relationships. Females reported benefits such as emotional comfort and maintaining friendships, while males …

Electronic Medical Record Clinical Decision Support Across The Ob Continuum Of Care: Enhancing Doula Education And Usage, Jonese D. Randall

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: The United States is seeing an uptick in maternal deaths by 159% since 2019, with maternal mortality higher with cesarean procedures (Hoyert, 2020; Riches et al., 2024[LC1] ). UC San Diego Health NTSV C-Section rates between September 2024 – October 2024 ranged between 22-54%, well above the benchmark of 23.4% in California (Slone, n.d.). Doulas are trained to care for the mother before, during, and after birth by being an advocate, providing physical and emotional support, and being a continuous support person (Dekker, 2017). Doulas have been shown to improve birthing outcomes by providing these support mechanisms, particularly …

Utilizing A Clinical Resource Hub To Improve Access And Workflow For Retinopathy Screenings In The Veteran Population, Erin Kelly Pope

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Abstract

Utilizing a Clinical Resource Hub to Improve Access and Workflow for Retinal Screenings in the Veteran Population

Erin K. Pope, MSN, RN, AGCNS-BC, AMB-BC

Scot Nolan, DNP, RN, CNS, PHN, CCRN, CNRN, SCRN, FCNS

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a progressive complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), is the leading cause of blindness among working-age adults. As DR can remain asymptomatic until advanced stages, annual screenings are critical for early detection and management. Teleretinal imaging is an evidence-based method for DR screening, offering cost efficiency and reduced demand on ophthalmology clinics. At the Veterans Administration’s (VA) Loma Linda Healthcare System …

Implementation Of A Nurse Practitioner-Led Video Telehealth Program To Improve Triage For Pediatric Patients In An Ambulatory Intestinal Rehabilitation Center, Elizabeth Castle

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Background: Children with short bowel syndrome are medically complex, requiring specialized management and coordinated care to address acute triage issues between scheduled visits. Their risk for rapid decompensation and distance from specialty centers often necessitates telephone-based triage—a typically non-reimbursable method. At a leading Northeastern U.S. children’s hospital, the Intestinal Rehabilitation (IR) center manages high-risk telephone triage of these patients’ concerns using experienced nurse practitioners. The inability to directly visualize patients during telephone encounters, however, limits clinical assessment and decision-making, presenting challenges to efficient and safe care delivery. A systematic literature review indicated that telehealth can enhance parental confidence, improve clinician …

Icanfeel: A Digital Art Activity To Support Distress Detection In Adult Oncological Patients, Marie J. Deschamps

Expressive Therapies Dissertations

Considered the 6th vital sign, distress, a combination of hopelessness, anxiety, fear, and depression, can impact patients’ quality of life, treatment adherence, and mortality. While screening is required in oncological centers, distress remains under-detected. This study examined the use of Icanfeel, a novel digital art-based tool, to complement traditional psychometric assessments such as Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), to support patients’ expressions of symptoms and distress detection. Hospitalized adult oncological patients (N = 22) engaged twice with Icanfeel and with an active control condition. At various time points during the protocol, patients self-reported symptom burden using ESAS, self-disclosure …

Enhancing Diabetes Management With Visual Tools: A Multimodal Approach For High-Risk Urban Populations, Mikyla R. Futz, Jesse Edwards, Md, Fhm

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Background & Objective

Patients from historically marginalized communities face disproportionate barriers to diabetes mellitus (DM) management due to limited health literacy, language discordance, and a lack of culturally responsive educational resources. These structural challenges contribute to poorer glycemic control, higher complication rates, and reduced adherence to recommended care. While visual communication tools have demonstrated efficacy in improving comprehension, self-efficacy, and disease outcomes in chronic illness, their integration into diabetes care remains limited and inconsistently implemented.

Visual interventions may be particularly impactful in populations with low health literacy or limited digital access, yet few have been embedded into routine outpatient workflows. …

Enhancing Primary Care Navigation For D/Deaf And Hard-Of-Hearing Patients: A Wayfinding Intervention Proposal, Mikyla R. Futz, Mary L. Micou, Robert S. Pugliese, Pharmd, Bcps, Jesse Edwards, Md, Fhm

Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit

Background

Auditory-dependent healthcare environments present persistent barriers to patients who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing (d/DHH), particularly where verbal instructions and auditory notifications dominate communication workflows. This contributes to delayed access to care, decreased satisfaction and strained patient provider-relationships, and significantly higher hospitalization rates —16-21% for individuals with mild to moderate hearing loss, respectively. Additionally, these patients experience higher rates of chronic conditions, lower health literacy, and reduced healthcare satisfaction. Existing interventions are often fragmented and narrowly focused, failing to capture the heterogeneity of d/DHH patients’ needs. This project introduces a scalable, continuous solution grounded in inclusive design principles …

A Retrospective Study Of Pulmonary Function Tests In Bronchiectasis: An Infectious Disease Of The Respiratory System, Vinod Mutkule, Mahesh Shinde, Vidya Bapmare, Sangramsingh Dixit, Atharva Sharma, Kshitij Sarwey, Yogeshwari Patil, Sanket Jethlia, Aayushi Dwivedi, Disha Pardeshi, Anmol Rai, Kunal Shah, Vidhi Kalwar

The University of Louisville Journal of Respiratory Infections

Introduction: Bronchiectasis, currently being recognized worldwide, is an abnormal dilatation of the bronchi and bronchioles brought on by recurrent cycles of inflammation and airway infection. Impaired pulmonary function has a predictive significance in bronchiectasis. When treating patients with suspected or confirmed respiratory diseases, pulmonary function tests (PFT) are useful examinations. Very few studies have been done on PFTs in bronchiectasis. The main aim of this study is to study PFTs in bronchiectasis.

Method: This is a retrospective observational study done on 50 patients over two years at the tertiary care center. The previous records of patients were collected from the …

Developing The Mycancergene Digital Health Portal To Improve Patients' Understanding Of Germline Cancer Genetic Test Results: Development, User, And Usability Testing Study, Phillip Trieu, Dominique Fetzer, Briana Mcleod, Kathryn Schweickert, Lauren Gutstein, Brian Egleston, Susan Domchek, Linda Fleisher, Lynne Wagner, Kuang-Yi Wen, Cara Cacioppo, Jessica E. Ebrahimzadeh, Dana Falcone, Claire Langer, Elisabeth Wood, Kelsey Karpink, Shelby Posen, Enida Selmani, Angela R. Bradbury

Department of Medical Oncology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: The use of multigene panels has significantly increased the likelihood that genetic testing will leave patients with uncertainties regarding test interpretation, implications, and recommendations, which will change over time. Effective longitudinal care models are needed to provide patients with updated information and to obtain patient and family history updates.

OBJECTIVE: To bridge this gap, we aimed to develop a patient- and genetic provider-informed digital genetic health portal (GHP), MyCancerGene, to improve longitudinal patient understanding of and responses to genetic testing.

METHODS: We used a 5-step process to develop MyCancerGene. To better understand their interest in and willingness to use …

Reducing The Percentage Of Intubation Time On Continuous Infusion Midazolam, Arsemen Brown, Emily Highsmith, Michelle Horng

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

This quality improvement study was conducted at a comprehensive cancer care center with the aim to decrease the percentage of on continuous infusion (CI) midazolam by 30% by May 5, 2023. The pre-intervention and post-intervention data collection phases occurred from January 1, 2022, to October 31, 2022, and March 7, 2023, to May 5, 2023, respectively. Sedation was assessed utilizing the Richmond Agitation and Sedation Scale (RASS), and delirium was assessed utilizing the Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC). A sedation pathway and associated educational materials were developed by a multidisciplinary team and frontline staff. Interventions in the sedation pathway …

Integrating Positive Psychology And Spirituality To Foster Meaning And Well-Being In Older Adults, Crystal Morris

Adultspan Journal

This perspective article explores the integration of positive psychology interventions (PPIs) and spirituality in therapy to foster meaning and well-being in older adults. It highlights exercises such as the positive introduction, positive legacy, character strengths, mindfulness, mindful-based yoga, and a manifestation prayer journaling. The interventions presented are tools to support older adults that may experience depression, difficult life transitions, and the search for renewed meaning. Therapists who integrate PPIs and spirituality into therapy can promote a holistic, non-pathological approach to treatment.

A Qualitative Evaluation Of Diabetes Solutions Telehealth Coaching Services, Caroline Brock

Honors Theses

Diabetes remains a growing public health concern, particularly in underserved regions such as rural Mississippi, where barriers to healthcare access and diabetes education contribute to poor disease management. This qualitative study explores the lived experiences of 27 participants enrolled in Diabetes Solutions, a telehealth-based diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES/T) program offered by the Mississippi Diabetes Network. Using a phenomenological approach and structured interviews, the study identifies four major themes: structural benefits of the program, knowledge gained, common changes by participants, and quality of life outcomes. Participants consistently emphasized the value of personalized coaching, emotional encouragement, and practical education on …

The Power In Patient Education: A Collaborative Approach To Cancer Care, Eric Singhi, Aurora Lucas

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

A viewpoint on patient education

The Effectiveness Of Telehealth For The Management Of Chronic Disease, Mariam Odunewu-Smith

Honors Capstones

Telehealth made a wide appearance in the medical industry during the Covid-19 pandemic due to the necessary decrease of physical interaction. It has continued to thrive and populate more patients since then. The benefits of telemedicine include quick, reliable one-onone sessions with a healthcare provider virtually, and is overall less costly compared to in person visits. Seeing a medical provider online is helpful in aiding patient recovery and management of chronic diseases. It is used to significantly improve the quality of life in the patients seen today. A literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed and ScienceDirect. Papers …

Factors Associated With Emergency Difficult Tracheal Intubation And Difficult Airway Management In A Non–Operating Room Setting At A Cancer Treatment Center, Jackson Su, Neil Bailard, Jens Tan, Jeffrey Lim, Catherine Vu, Wenli Dong, Gang Zheng

Advances in Cancer Education and Quality Improvement

Difficult tracheal intubations are reported more often in the emergency non−operating room setting than in the operating setting. To identify the factors associated with emergency difficult intubation (DI) and difficult airway (DA) management in hospitalized patients with cancer, we conducted a single-center retrospective study in hospitalized patients who underwent emergency intubations in a non−operating setting from 2016 to 2019 at a cancer treatment center. Cases of DI (inability to visualize the vocal cords and/or >2 intubation attempts) and DA (DI, advanced airway device use, and/or need for a surgical airway) were included. We reviewed 763 cases; the DI and DA …